Circular loom



Feb. 8, 1938. F. c. HALE ET AL C IRCULAR .LOOM

Filed July 16, 1935' Patented Feb. 8, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFHCECIRCULAR LOOM Delaware Application July 16, 1935, Serial No. 31,599 InGreat Britain July 23, 1934 6 Claims.

This invention relates to circular looms, and in particular to thepositioning of the shuttles in such looms, the driving of the shuttlesrelatively to the warps, and the stopping of the loom in the event ofthread failure or breakage. The

invention relates particularly to circular looms of the type in whichthe shuttles are positioned within the sheds formed by the warpsdisposed cylindrically or substantially cylindrically by means of vanewheels penetrating one sheet of warps at each shuttle and enteringrecesses in the shuttle, slots between the vanes permitting the threadsof the penetrated sheet of warps to pass the vane wheels. This type ofmechanism is particularly efiective in that it overcomes in quite asatisfactory manner one of the principal difficulties ofcircular'weaving, viz. the positioning of a shuttle totally enclosed bythe warp threads without damaging the warp threads, since the onlyaction of the vane wheels on the penetrated sheet of warps is a smooth,uni-directional sliding action on the threads as they pass between thevanes. Used in conjunction with a supporting roller mounted in theshutttle so as to engage a circular race mounted on the side of theshuttle remote from the vane wheels and their sheet of warps passingbetween the roller and the race, the vane wheels provide for asubstantially rigid vibrationless support for the shuttle and somaintain the shuttle accurately positioned. When the vane wheels arefree from gaging pairs of flanged rollers mounted on the shuttle asdescribed in U. S. application S. No. 706,322 filed 12th January, 1934,which has issued as Patent No. 2,050,328, very little wear of themechanism can take place and the accurate positioning of the shutttle ismaintained over a long period.

In addition to providing simple means for rotating the vane wheels, theconstruction'described is extremely simple and provides in a readymanner for weaving to be brought to an end in. the event of yarn failureor breakage. Thus, U. S. Patent No. 1,822,292 describes a circular loomhaving shuttles positioned by rotatable vane wheels: mounted upon arotatable ring which is normally held stationary so that the shuttlesremain stationary while the warps rotate to elfect weaving. A feelermounted upon each shuttle detects any jamming of the warps such as isoccasioned by breakage of a warp thread, and releases the ring carryingthe vanewheel shafts and clutches it to a member rotating with thewarps. In this way the shuttle at which the warp jam has been detectedhas its motion relative to the warps brought to an end before it hasseriously damaged the jammed warps. As, however, the amount of relativemotion which may be permitted to take place between the shuttle and thewarps after jamming of the warps is limited, the space of time in whichthe relative motion must be brought to an end is inversely proportionalto the speed of operation of the loom, so that as the speed of operationis increased the stop mechanism must be capable of operating withextreme rapidity. This consideration applies not only when the shuttlesare normall stationary, but also in looms in which the shuttles normallyrotate and have to be 15 brought to rest in the event of warp jamming.In either case the mass represented by the shuttles and their supportingand driving gear is a highly important factor. The greater this mass thegreater the difiiculty in causing the shuttles to rotate or in bringingthem to rest as the case may be.

The present invention has as its principal object the mounting anddriving of the shuttle in such a manner that rapid stopping of weavingcan be effected even at high speeds of operation.

According to the invention the shuttles are positioned by vane wheelsmounted on a rotatable ring disposed at substantially the same level asthat at which the vane wheels engage the shuttles, so that apart fromthe shuttles themselves the principal rotatable mass is comprised by thesupporting ring and the vane wheel mechanisms concentrated on the ring.The vane wheels themselves are carried on driving shafts preferablymounted in supports secured to the ring at points adjacent to positionsto be occupied by the shuttles and so constructed as to add relativelylittle weight to the rotatable ring while providing a rigid mounting forthe shafts. 40

The driving of the vane wheels is conveniently effected by means of acircular gear concentric with the supporting ring. The connectionbetween the vane wheel shafts and the circular gear may be indirect, asby means of short spindles 45 projecting inwards, e. g. radially inwardsor substantially so from the gear, and provided at their outer ends withpinions engaging the gear and at their inner ends with gears, preferablyof the helical type, engaging similar gears on the vane 5 wheel shafts.This driving arrangement is therefore of extremely small dimensions andrepresents only a very small increase of weight in the rotatable parts.The provision of the intermediate gear between the spindles and the 55vane wheel shafts enables a stepping up of the vane wheel speed to bemade.

In a loom in which the shuttles norrnally rotate, the supporting ring isdriven at a suitable speed and so carries the pinions on the shortspindles round a fixed gear ring disposed close to the supporting ring.In the event of warp jamming, a brake is applied to the supporting ringto bring it rapidly to rest, the connection of the supporting ring andthe driving motor or other driving; means preferably being broken withextreme rapidity, as, for example, by means of the type described in U.S. application S. Nfo. 30,059, filed July 6, 193.5, which has issued asPatent No. 2,065,137, and U. S. application S. No. 31,600, filed July16, 1935, which has issued as Patent No. 2,080,819.

vOne form of apparatus according to the invention will now be describedin greater detail with reference to the accompanying drawing in whichFigure l is a somewhat diagrammatic part crosssectional elevation ofsufiicient of a circular loom employing rotating shuttles to illustratethe vane wheel driving mechanism in connection therewith; Figure 2 is apart cross-seetional elevation of the vane wheel driving mechanism onlarger scale; while Figure 3 is a part cross-sectional. plan view of themechanism shown in Figure 2.

Referring to Figure 1, warp threads i unwinding from beams or likesupply packages (not shown) proceed downwardly to the fabric 5 along thefell 6 of which weft is laid by'a number of rotating shuttles i (oneshown). The Warp threads 4 are divided into two separate sheets 8, 9 bya number of circular lease rods iii and are spaced evenly round the loomby a circular comb I! supported beneath the lease rods by a spider l2outstanding from the central shaft 53 of the loom.

Beneath the comb II the two sheets 3, 9 of warp threads pass through acircular reed It having eyed dents i5 and supported by a spider H3. Thethreads of the sheet 9 are: threaded through the eyes of the dents i5while the threads of the sheet 8 are passed between the dents. In thismanner when all the warp threads of both sheets 8, 9 are pressedinwardly or outwardly with respect to the central shaft 53, the threadsof the sheet 8 amino to move radially along the spaces between the.dents it to either side of the path of the shuttle While the threads ofthe sheet 9 are maintained in fixed position, thereby iorming a shed forshuttle reception.

In Figure l a shedding wheel 2? mounted for free rotation on a pillar E8upstai'iding from a retatable ring E9 (to be described later) is shownpressing the two sheets of warp threads radially inwards to form a shedfor the shuttle "i. This shedding action is eifected immediately inadvance of each shuttle progressively round the loom, the warp threadsbeing pressed inwardly and outwardly in turn at alternate shuttles.

Each shuttle 7 is supported from outside the outer warp sheet (9, inFigure 1) and urged round the loom between the shedded warp threads bypairs of vane wheels 2i? which engage pairs of flanged rollers 2| freelymounted two different levels in recesses formed in the shuttle. Theshape and construction of the vane wheels 29 is such that the vanes 25pass freely through the outer Warp sheet without hindering the passageof the warp threads, which pass smoothly through the spaces between thevanes.

A plain roller 22 freely mounted abouta'substantially vertical axiswithin a further recess between the levels of the flanged rollers 2ibears against the edge of a circular race 23 outstanding from thecentral shaft 53 of the loom, the race thus serving to support eachshuttle from the inside of the loom. The warp threads of the inner sheeta} pass freely between the face of the roller 22 and the edge ,of'therace 23.

The pairs of vane Wheels 20 are secured on a shaft 25 which is drivenfrom a radially disposed spindle 25 by helical gears 2?, 23 mountedrespectively between the vanewheels 26 on the shaft 25 and on thedriving spindle 2t beneath the shaft 25. The shaft and driving spindle2'6 are mounted in ball bearings 29 housed in a casing 3a which issecured to the rotatable ring !9. The

casing 38 covers the driving gear 2?, 28 and the greater part of thedriving spindle 26 and shaft 25, and in addition to forming a compactunit of the vane wheel mechanism, allows of the provision ofv an'oilbath, (to be described later) for g the driving gear. v

The rotatable ring i9 is mountedclose to the warp threads and drivenround the loom, at the rate at which it is desired to cause the shuttlesto travel, from an electric. motor 3i, the drive being transmitted bybelt gearing 32, a vertical shaft 33 and a gear 34 whichengages teeth 35formed round the ring.

Mounted concentrically with the rotatable ring i9 is a fixed ring 36 onwhich are formed teeth 3?.

These teeth engage with a pinion 38secured to.

the outer extremityfof the radial spindle 26 so that on rotation of thering it not only is the vane wheel mechanism rotated bodily about theloom axis, but the vane wheels themselves are rotated about their axesby reason of the relative motion between the teeth 3? on the fixed ring35 and the pinion 38. The radial spindle 26 thus provides a directconnection between the shaft 25 and the fixed ring 3%. I

Since thespindle 25 lies close to the supporting ring 89, the height ofthe vane wheel shaft 25 is kept near to the ring, so that the mass ofthe vane wheel mechanisms is concentrated on the ring. Further, thetotal mass of the ring I!) and between the shedded warp threads, whilethe a rotation of the vane wheels about their own axes allows the vanes2d ,to pass freely through the outer sheet of warp threads withoutjamming or damaging the threads.

The casing 36 (and consequently the vane wheel mechanism as a whole) isreadily detachable from the ring as in order to provide for quickremoval of the corresponding shuttle. Inorder to ensure that the vanewheel mechanism can be replaced quickly in exactly the same positionthere are provided in connection with each casing 35 pairs of adjustingscrews 5% screwing in heads 41 -upstanding from the ring is and abuttingagainst stops 42 formed in the casing. The screws 48 allow of lineadjustment of the vane wheel mechanism radially towards or away from theshuttle.

By fitting the ring i9 closely to the warp threads its diameter, andconsequently its weight, is reduced to the lowest possible amount inrelation to the weaving diameter of the loom; In addition, the ring isgiven a trough section providing for rigidity coupled with lightness,and is iii) preferably made of light metal, e. g. a light aluminiumalloy, all other rotating parts, such as the casing 39 and the shuttlesthemselves being constructed as far as possible of similar lightmaterials.

As mentioned above, the casing 38 allows of the provision of an oil bathfor the gears 2?, 26. oil being inserted in the casing on removing ascrew cap 43 situated on the top of the casing over the helical gearing.The oil is thrown upwardly at the gears 21, 28 by a rotatable thrower 44fixed to the spindle 26, and is kept in the vicinity of the gears andprevented from splashing parts not requiring lubrication, bysplashguards 45. The edges of the vane wheels are lubricated by pads 46carried by spring supports 41.

Provision may be made for securing any desired number of vane wheelmechanisms on the ring [9 so that, for example, a loom designed toaccommodate twelve shuttles may also be used with ten shuttles spacedevenly around its periphery.

While the apparatus according to the invention is, in view of itslightness and compactness, of particular value in a circular loomemploying rotating shuttles, it is to be understood that it can quitesimply be incorporated in a loom in which the shuttles remain in fixedposition while the warp threads rotate about the loom axis.

What we claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:--

1. A light vane wheel driving unit for a circular loom, comprising acasing, a vane wheel supporting shaft supported by said casing, a gearon said shaft within said casing, a driving spindle sup ported by saidcasing and disposed substantially at right angles to said vane wheelsupporting shaft, a gear on said driving spindle within said casing andin engagement with said gear on said shaft, ball bearings for said shaftand said spindle, and a driving pinion on said spindle outside thecasing.

2. In a circular loom in which rotatable vane wheels are provided topass between, the warp threads into engagement with shuttles to positionthe shuttles within the warp shed, a vane wheel driving gear-ring.spindles in geared connection with the gear-ring and projectingtherefrom substantially radially inwards, a gear on the inner end ofeach spindle, rotatable shafts for carrying the vane wheels, a gear on,each shaft in engagement with a gear on, the inner end of a spindle, acasing for holding each vane wheel shaft and its associated spindle andfor covering the gearing therebetween, and a ring for supporting thecasings and between which and the warp threads there is relativecircular motion with respect to the loom axis, the vertical positioningof the teeth of the gear-ring and of the casings be ing such that theteeth and the spindles, and also the axes of the rotatable shafts andthe gearing connecting the spindles and the shafts lie within a spacethe bounds of which are at a verti cal distance from the supporting-ringequal to twice the radius of a vane wheel.

3. In a circular loom in which rotatable vane wheels are provided topass between the warp threads into engagement with shuttles to positionthe shuttles within the warp shed, a vane wheel driving gear-ring,spindles in geared connection with the gear-ring and projectingtherefrom substantially radially inwards, a gear on the inner end ofeach spindle, rotatable shafts for carrying the vane wheels, a gear oneach shaft in engagement with a gear on the inner end of a spindle,

a casing for holding each vane wheel shaft and its associated spindleand for covering the gearing therebetween, a ring for supporting thecasings and between which and the warp threads there is relativecircular motion with respect to the loom axis, and means for adjustingthe radial position of each casing on the supporting-ring, the verticalpositioning of the teeth of the gearring and of the casings being suchthat the teeth and the spindles, and also the axes of the rotatableshafts and the gearing connecting the spindles and the shafts lie withina space the bounds of which are at a vertical distance from thesupporting-ring equal to twice the radius of a vane wheel.

4. In a circular loom in which rotatable vane wheels are provided topass between the warp threads into engagement with shuttles to positionthe shuttles within the warp shed, a vane wheel driving gear-ring,spindles in geared connection with the gear-ring and projectingtherefrom substantially radially inwards, a gear on the inner end ofeach spindle, rotatable shafts for carrying the vane wheels, a gear oneach shaft in engagement with a gear on the inner end of a spindle, acasing for holding each vane wheel shaft and its associated spindle andfor covering the gearing therebetween, an oil-thrower disposed withinthe casing, splash guards co-operat ing with said oil-thrower forconfining lubricant to the vicinity of the engaging gears, and a ringfor supporting the casings and between which and the warp threads thereis relative circular motion with respect to the loom axis, the verticalpositioning of the teeth of the gear-ring and of the casings being suchthat the teeth and the spindles, and also the axes of the rotatableshafts and the gearing connecting the spindles and the shafts lie withina space the bounds of which are at a vertical distance from thesupporting-ring equal to twice the radius of a vane wheel.

5. In a circular loom in which rotatable vane wheels are provided topass between the warp threads into engagement with shuttles to positionthe shuttles within the warp shed, a stationary vane wheel drivinggear-ring, spindles in geared connection with the gear-ring andprojecting therefrom substantially radially inwards, a gear on the innerend of each spindle, rotatable shafts for carrying the vane wheels, agear on each shaft in engagement with a gear on the inner end of aspindle, a casing for holding each vane wheel shaft and its associatedspindle and for covering the gearing therebetween. a ring for supportingthe casings, means for driving the supportingring round the axis of theloom, the vertical positioning of the teeth of the gear-ring and of thecasings being such that the teeth and the spindles, and also the axes ofthe rotatable shafts and the gearing connecting the spindles and theshafts lie within a space the bounds of which are at a vertical distancefrom the supporting-ring equal to twice the radius of a vane wheel.

6. In a circular loom in which rotatable vane wheels are provided topass between the warp threads into engagement with shuttles to positionthe shuttles within the warp shed, rotatable shafts carrying the vanewheels, a ring between which and the warp threads there is relativecircular motion with respect to the loom axis, means cooperating withsaid ring for supporting the vane wheel shafts with their axes within aspace the bounds of which are at a vertical sofa tance from the ringequal to twice th the shaftvane wheel, a gear-ring co 3 supporting ringand disposed with its teeth at a greater radial distance from the loomaxis than the vane wheel shafts, spindles in geared connection with thegear-ring and projecting therefrom substantially radially towards theloom axis, and a helical gear on the inner end of each spindle and inengagement with a helical gear on a vane wheel shaft, the teeth of thegear-ring, the

spindles, and the gearing connecting the spindles with the gear-ring andthe vane wheel shafts all lying within substantially the same verticalbounds with respect to the shaft-supporting ring as the vane wheelshafts.

FRANK CORBYN HALE. ROBERT YEADON.

